The Six Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Personal Trainer
When working towards getting active, healthy, and fit, there’s nothing like having your own personal trainer. He’ll be your coach, your friend, your guide, your motivator and your accountability person. A personal trainer will also be the one who scolds you when you think of cheating on your reps.
Before you hire a trainer, however, you have to make sure he’s ready and committed to fill the above roles for you. How do you know? You can start by asking these all-important questions.
What’s your certification?
The first step to being able to trust a personal trainer is to know that he is certified by a fitness agency or institute. Inquire about his education and credentials. Certification is usually given by associations such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). There are lots more, and they all set thorough and rigorous requirements to ensure that trainers have the necessary qualifications and credentials. It is also essential to look for a trainer who is certified in First Aid – and who will know what to do in cases of emergency.
Have you got a trainer presenting himself to you without any form of certification whatsoever? Take extra caution if you are considering hiring him; otherwise, you might be jeopardizing your training as well as your health.
Can I request for references?
It’s highly recommended that you ask a personal trainer about past clients before you think of hiring him. That way, you will be able to talk to people who know what it’s like working with him – people who will be able to provide objective feedback. And don’t hesitate to ask for references. If the personal trainer refuses to give references or acts as though it is such a big, inconvenient deal, you may want to look for someone else.
How do you work out?
Don’t expect your personal trainer to have the greatest body in the whole universe. And don’t assume he has never eaten a cheeseburger in his life. What counts, though, is that the trainer has his own fitness regimen – and that he sticks to it. A trainer may be knowledgeable in the technical side of all kinds of exercises, but if he himself is not serious about his health and fitness, if he himself doesn’t dedicate a significant amount of time working out, then you might be better off looking for someone who can actually lead by example.
What is your exercise or fitness philosophy?
It’s not a trick question, and don’t judge the personal trainer if he doesn’t provide you with a scholarly thesis on the social injustices of the 21st century American diet. What you’re to look for is a proven system for results, and the kind of trainer credibility that addresses all your fitness-related questions. Expect the right personal trainer to talk about how he motivates clients, track progress, and achieve efficiency throughout a workout program. If all the candidate has to say is the trite “No Pain, No Gain” motto, he’s not by any means the right one for you.
What is your specialty?
Not all personal trainers are created equal. Specializations vary, and from a wide selection of trainers you might get one who’s good at yoga, or another who has extensive experience in plyometrics, and others still who are at their best when implementing weight-lifting or bodybuilding programs. Make sure you shortlist candidates by finding out which trainers have experience in handling clients with the kind of training objectives that you want to achieve. In other words, look for a right match.
What’s your schedule like?
It’s perfectly all right for a personal trainer to have multiple clients, but forget it if he’s going to be so busy that you have to revolve your sessions around his schedule instead of the other way around. A good trainer has time to take you on – and will make time for you whenever you are available.
